Electric switch



March 18, 1930. c. H. SANDERSON ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed April 29, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheen Inventor Clarence H Sanderson His Attorneu March 18, 1930. c. H. SANIVJERSON ELECTRIC swmcn Filed April 29, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I1 s ventmn-- Clarence H. Sanderson,

His Mum-a .Patented Mar. 18, 1930 UNITED; TES PATENT oFFIcri CLARENCE/J 11. saunrlason, or, iiu'rLuY. pEwunnsEY; AssxeNoB. ,zuo GENERAL ELECTRIC-COMPANY, a-coaronarrouon-rmw YORK anaem c swI'rcH Application mea A ril as,

My invention relates to improvements in electric switches and more particularly to improvements in elect ic switches and cir-- which are usually oblique when in the cir-' cuit opening position, are subject to dust accumulations which greatly impair their. efficiency. With currents otten as large as 2Q,O00 amperes, this is especially troublesome and it'becomes necessary frequently to dress the contact faces of the movable contacts. Moreover, with such large currents, it is customary to employ a plurality of movable contacts or brushes to obtain the re quired conducting capacity. Where thesev are rigidly mounted on one support, nicety of alinement is practically an absolute necessity for good contact. 7

With a plurality of brushes all mounted on one side of the switch supporting structure, theshocks which accompany the movements of the brushes, particularly to circuit closing position, tend to induce high stresses in the switch supporting structure. This usually comprises panels of slate, marble and the like which do not inherently possess'such static roperties as satisfactorily and economica ly to withstand these stresses. More over, the brushes are usually under considerable stress whenin the circuit closing posi- 40 tion so that bending stresses are imposed on the switch supporting structure. Switch board panels of insulating material such as slate, marble and the like, are therefore structurally not economical materials since they 43 must assume massive proportions to withstand the stresses involved. Moreover, a

1 plurality of circuit breakers each havin a plurality of brushes involves considera le expense and muchspace. With a solid back m switchboard, the proper ventilation is diff and its scope 1924,. Sgriai No. 109.894.

cult to obtain and it is necessary to reduce the current pernnit area of' bfush contact or toispace the brushes farther apart tov m vent undue heating. This involves higher copper expense or more space.

The space factor becomes a highlyfimportant economic the whole matter is a question of economic importance to the publi An object of my. invention is to provide an improved electric switch which is adapted to be operated to control a plurality of circuits selectively and which is capable of conducting large currents with minimum copper and maximum ventilation. Anotherobject of my invention is to provide a plural circuit controlling electric switch which is niatterpa'rticularly in large cities wlierdise particularly adapted for the control of multiple bus systems so that the movablecontact member is normally intcircuit closing position. A further object of my invention is to prpvi de an electric switch having a plurality flexibly mounted movable contacts arranged to insure a highly efficient contact and to reduce shocks and strains on the support ing=tructure. A further object of my invention is to provide a compact unitary switch structure which has a power operated means for moving the movable switching element to any selected circuit controlling position, a

able switching element to circuit closing positilon and a relatively simple operating contro a My invention will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanyiiig drawings will bepginted out in'the ap: pended claims. 7

Fig. 1 illustrates in perspective an electric switch embodying my invention and Fig. 2 illustrates in perspective another embodiment of my invention.

'lhe switch embodying the form of my in power operated means for moving the movvention shown in Fig. 1 comprises a plurality of spaced stationary contacts 1, 2, 3, and one or more cooperating movable contacts such as brushes 4 and 5 which are arranged to be positioned selectively for movement into circuit closing position with any one of the contacts 1, 2, 3, by an actuating mechanism com prising, for example,; a motor 6,gears 7 and 8 and a screw shaft 9 so as to controlga plurality of circuits. For moving the brushes 4 and 5 into circuit closing .position when they have been placed in juxtaposition with any one of the contacts 1, 2 and 3, any suitablepower operated mechanism which may be of the latched-in collapsibletype, may be used' As shown, this mechanism comprises two pivoted brush or contact carrying arms 2 10, an operating toggle comprising links 11,

a lost motion operating link 12, aholding toggle comprising links 13, and 14, and a latch:1 5 therefor. This mechanism may be arranged to be actuated by any suitable means such as an electric motor 16 which may be arranged to move the link 12 through any suitable driving means such as. a magnetic clutch 17, gears 18 and 19 and a loose crank 20.

The stationary contacts 1, 2 and 3 are mounted on and insulated from a suitable frame or structural'member such as a bar 21 which'may be of steel and which may be mounted in any suitable manner to support the entire switch. Rigidly associated with the bar 21 through insulators' 22 are contact bars or buses 23 and 24 which are insulated from each other and spaced from the contacts 1, 2 and 3 to permit the brushes 4 and 5 to bridge either contact bar 23 and contacts 1 or 2, or contact bar 24 and contact 3 so as to control a plurality of circuits. In the particular arrangement shown, the contact bar 23 is continuous for two circuit controlling positions of the brushes 4 and 5 so that a source 25, which may be a D. C. generator or rotary converter and which is connected to the contact bar 23, can be connected, with the brushes 4 and 5 in circuit closing position on contact 1 and contact bar- 23 to a'bus 26 or with the brushes 4 and 5 in circuit closing position on contact 2 and contact bar 23 to a bus 27. Obviously the'contact bar 23 could be made discontinuous, if it were desired to connect, for example, separate sources to the buses 26 and 27. With the brushes 4 and 5 in. circuit closing position on contact 3 and contact bar 24, the buses 26 and 27 are inter-' connected. It is therefore possible to shift esource from one busto another or tie two f; busesfI -together, in accordance with the load demand and in any case the brushes 4 and 5 fare in cont'actgclosing position so that dust -dirt,cannotiaccumulate on their contact ,order'lfl that the brushes 4 and 5 may be moved to thefiwarious circuit controlling po- .sitions, they may be mounted'on a suitable supporting means arranged for movement in line with the contacts 1, 2 and 3. The supporting means may comprise, for example, a carriage 28 reciprocable on a bed plate or guide way 29 secured to and preferably insulated from the stationary contact supporting structure. The carriage 28 is arranged to be engaged by the screw shaft 9 which is rotatable in either direction by the motor 6 shown for example as a reversing field DC.

motor. I I

The power operated mechanism for moving the brushes 4and 5. to circuit closing position is mounted on the carriage 28. For controlling this mechanism so as to efiect the movement of the brushes 4 and 5 to circuit opening position, I provide controlling means such as an electroresponsive device 30 I arranged when energized to release the latch 15 so that the toggle 13, 14 may collapse and thus allow the brushes 4 and 5 to move oppositely away from contact closing position.

For controlling the travel of the carriage 28, limit switches 31, 32, 33, arranged to be actuated by a projection 34-mounted on the carriage, are provided. Collector rails 35, 36 and 37, arranged to be traversed by contact shoes or wheels 38, 39 and 40 mounted on the carriage 28 are provided for conducting current to various auxiliary circuits arranged to be supplied from control buses 41 and 42. Obviously, in place of the collector rails and contact wheels, there-may be used a looped multiconductor control cable which has its several conductors connected to fixed ations. Thus, assuming the switch or circuit breaker contacts 4 and 5 in circuit closing position and that it is desired to move to another circuit closing position, the sequence is; first, the tripping or opening of the contacts second, moving the contacts to the desired position, and thirdfclosing the contacts. The control switch 43 comprises a reciprocable member such as a rod 44 biased to a neutral or intermediate position by any suitable means such as springs 45 and carrying bridging contacts 46, 47 and 48 arranged for engagement with cooperating fixed contacts such as contact segments49, 50 and 51.

The rod 44 may be restrained from rotary movement by a dog 52 until pulled out sufficiently to release the dog from registering slots in a fixed member such as a disk 53.

be provided, although an independently. operable swltch may be used: The contact 47 is arrangedsothat in pulling out on rod 44 1t bridges contacts 50 before contact 46 touches contact 49and'son1e one of the co operating contact segments marked 1, 2 and controlling positions of thebrushes 4 and 5. Assumin the parts to bepositioned as shown 1n Flg. 1 and that it is desired to shift the source from bus 26 to bus 27, the

control switch rod 44 is pulled out thus causing contact 47 to bridge contact segments 50. This completes a circuit from control bus 41 through conductor 56, contact segments and bridging contact 47, conductor 57, collector rail 35, contactshoe 38, conductor 58,

auxiliary switch 59 which is closed when the circuit breaker is closed, conductor 60, controlling device 30, conductor 61, contact shoe 39, collector rail 36 and conductor 62 to control bus 42. The circuit just traced constitutes the tripping or opening circuit, irrespective of the position of the brushes 4 and 5 and when closed energizes; the controllin' device 30 which trips the latch 15 thus al-' lowing the brushes4 and-5 toymove to circuit opening position. Obviously, the controlling device 30' may also be arranged to' be energized inresponse to abnormalcircuit conditions in a manner well known to the art.

The rod 44 is now turned to position 2. In this movement the flip switch 54 is thrown to close contact 63 and contact 46 completes a circuit from control bus *41 through conductor} 56, contact segment 49, contact 46,

, cooperating contactsegment 2, conductor 64,

limit switch 32, conductor 65, flip switch 54 and contact 63, conductor 66, motor field 6', armature of motor 6, conductor 67, collector rail 36 and conductor 62 to control bus At the same time a parallel circuit through a suitable indicating device such as a lam 'tuating means or travel motor 6 is energized brushes 4 and 5 may be provided for as Well and the brushes 4 and5 are moving. When the carriage 28 reaches a position such that the brushes 4 and 5 are oppbsite the stationany contact 2, the projection 34 opens the limitswitch 32, thereby interrupting the oir= cuits of the travel motor 6 and the lamp 68.

- It is of course understood that the usual red. and green lamps for indlcating the closed and open positions respectively of the as the white or'travel indicating lamp 6 8,

vby the additiorr'of more auxiliary switches on the traveling mechanism and more collector rails and coi'1tact wheels.

By analogy,the circuit for energizing the travel motor for movement of brushes 4 and 5 from position 2 to position 3 or from position 1 to position 3 may-readily be traced.

For reverse movement, the circuits will be obvious from the fact that. the contact rod mot6r 6 and the carriage 28. 3 to correspond with the different circuit 'andcontact bar 23,-the control switch rod 44 is pushed in and contact 48 bridges contacts 51. This completes a circuit from control bus 41 through conductor 56, contact segments 51 and contact 48, conductor 70, collector rail 37, contact shoe 40, conductor 71, auxiliary switch 72 closed when the circuit breaker is open and vice-versa, conductor 73, magnetic clutch 17, motor 16, conductor 74, contact shoe 39, collector rail 36. and conductor 62 to control bus 42. The closing circuit just traced is the same, irrespective of the selectedposition to which the brushes 4 and 5 have been moved. The motor 16 is thus energized and caused to turn the gear .19, a projection on which'engages the loose crank g 20 so as to raise-the operating link 12. This moves the brushes 4 and 5 into circuit closing positionand sets the holding toggle 13 and 14 which is held rigid.by the latch 15. The operating link 12 falls back slightly and opens the auxiliary switch 72, thus opening the "circuitof the motor 16 and clutch"17 The switch rod may now be released and will assume the intermediate position with dog 52 in slot 2 of-the disk 53.

Referring now to the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 2, the spaced stationary contacts 1, 2-and 3 are mounted on and insulated from a supporting member 21 which" is secured .to end frame members 75, only one being shown, tied together for example by bottom frame members 76. The

contact bars 23 and 24, insulated from each L P other .asheretofore described, are insulated 68 is completed so asto indicate that the acfrom and supported by the end frames 75. The-movable contacts or brushes ,4- and 5' are shown in pairs. although as many as necessary contact faces is unnecessary in order to insure a good contacts In this modification of my invention, the

carriage 28, which arranged for movement on the bottom frame members 76, carries not only the movable brushes 4 and 5 and the power operated mechanism comprising the motor 16 for moving them to circuit closing position, but also the actuating means,which is adapted to be operated to position the brushes 4 and 5 selectively. This actuating means comprises the motor 6" arranged to drive a WOIm' Wheel. 77 journaled on the carriage 28 and threaded for engagement with a screw" member or rod 78, the ends of which are mounted in the end-frames 75 so as to prevent turning but with suflicient lost motion to allow for slight deviations in aline-- ment. 4

.Limit switches 31, 32 and 33 arranged to be actuated by a projection 34 on the carriage 28 are provided as before, the limit switch 32 comprising two insulated po'rtions arranged to control two contacts 79 and 79 respec.

switching mechanism comprisingthe motor 16 and the controlling means comprising the tripping electroresponsive device 30, I provide a control switch which as illustrated comprises a reciprocable contact controlling member such as a rod 44 anda rotatable contact controlling member 86. The rod 44 is biased to an intermediateposition by springs 45 and carries a bridging member 87 arranged when the rod is pulledout to bridge contacts 88 and when pushed in to bridge contacts 89 so as to effect respectively the tripping and closing of the circuit breaker. The contact controlling member 86 is arranged to control contacts marked 1', 2' and 3 to correspond with the difierent circuit closing positions of the brushes 4 and 5, and its handle may be arranged to move over astationary dialmounted on a control switchboard and'mark'ed sothatthe position of the handle will indicatethe position of the brushes. For controlling the direction of rotation of the travel motor 6, that is the direction of movement of the carriage 28, a reversing controller comprising energizing windings 90 and 91 may be used. This con troller is arranged to control contacts 92, 93, 94 and 95 in various auxiliary circuits which will hereinafter be pointed out.

Assuming that the parts are positioned as shown in Fig. 2 and that it is desired to shift source 25 from. bus 26 to bus 27 the operation is as follows :The switch rod 44 is pulled out, thus completing acircuit from the control bus 41 through conductor 96, contact member 87 and contacts 88, conductor 97, collector rail 35, contact shoe 38, conductor 98, controlling means 30, conductor 99, aux- 1,751,ae4' Y iliary switch contacts closed when the circuit breaker is closed, conductor 101, contact shoe 39, collector rail 36 and conductor 102 to control bus 42. The circuit just traced is the same for all circuitclosing positions of the brushes 4 and 5.

The switch rod 44 is now released and the switch member 86 turned clockwise until its contact arm 103 engages the right hand cooperating contact 2, thus completing a circuit from control bus 41'through conductor 96, contact 103, right hand contact 2, conductor 104; position switch 32 and contact 7 9, conductor 105, controller winding 91 and conductor .106 to control bus 41. Upon energization of the controller winding 91, a circuit is completed from control bus 41 through conductor107, contact 92, conductor 108, contact rail. 84, contact shoe 85, motor 6 and lamp 68 in parallel, contact shoe 40, collector rail 37, conductor 109, controller contact 93 and conductor 106 to control bus 42. The travel motor 6 is thus energized for rotation in a direction to move the carriage 28 to the right. So long as the controller winding 91 is energized, the carriage will be moved but as soon as the carriage 28 reaches a position where projection 34 actuates the limit switch 32, the circuit of winding 91 is interrupted and under the influence of suitable biasing means, such as. springs, the controller is moved to open contacts 92 and 93 and the circuit of the motor 6 and lamp 68 interrupted. This occurs when the brushes 4 and 5 are in juxtaposition with the stationary contact2.

In order to move the brushes 4 and 5 into circuit closing position, the switch rod 44 is pushed in, thus completing a circuit from control bus 41 through conductor 96 0on tacts 89 and contact member 87, co ductor' 110, contact 82, position switch 80, co ductor 111, magnetic clutch 17 motor 16, auxiliary switch contacts 112 closed when the circuit breaker is open and vice-versa, conductor,

101, contact shoe'39,'collector rail 36'and conductor 102 to control bus 42.- The motor 16 is thus energized and rotates the worm 113 and worm gear 114 in a direction such thata crank 115 secured-to the worm'wheel moves-around and engages the loose crank 20. This latter is then turned and -moves the operating link12 upward thereby moving the brushes 4 and 5 to circuit closing position and setting the holding toggle 13,

' 14 which is held by the latch '15.

To move the brushes 4'and 5 from any,.

position to another as from position .1 or 2 to position 3, that is Where they may be closed on contact 3 to tie the buses 26 and 27 together, the procedure is analogous to that heretofore described except that the contact 103 is turned clockwise to engage its cooperating. contact 3'. g

Assuming that the brushes 4 and 5 are menace;

closed on stationary contact 3 and 'contac t bar 24 and that it is desired to change plete the circuit of the contr olling means 30 as heretofore described so as to effect the movement of the brushes to circuit opening position? The switch member 103 is then turned clockwise from its cooperating contact 3' to its left hand cooperating contact 2 thus completing a circuit from the bus 41 through conductor 96, contact 103. and its left hand cooperating contact 2", conductor 116, contact 7 9' of limit switch 32, conductor 117, controller winding 90 and conductor 106 to bus 42. The controller is thus energized and contacts 94 and 95 thereof closed, thus completing a circuit from control bus 41 through conductor 107, contact 94, conductor 109, collector rail 37, contact shoe 40, motor 6 and lamp 68 in parallel, contact shoe 85, conductor 108, controller contact 95 and conductor 106 to control bus 42. The direction of current inthe field of the motor 6, which may be a shunt field direct current motor, is therefore reversed so that the motor will move the carriage 28- from right to left. When the projection 34. engages the limit switch'32, the controller winding 90 will be deener'gized and consequently the circuit of the motor 6 interrupted. The brushes 4 and 5 may then be moved to circuit'aclosing positionby pushing in the control switch rod 44 as heretofore described. It will be'obvious from the open construction embodied in the modificatio s of my invention shown in Figs. 1 and 2 t at the maximum ventilation is assured so that the brushes 4 and 5 need not be excessive in size to avoidheating and therefore the current intensity may be greatly increased as compared with solid back switchboard mounting[s. n I

t is also obvious that because of the op- .posed arrangement of the brushes 4 and 5- that. thedesired conductivity, even for hea currents, may be obtained with the movable contacts concentrated in a relatively small spacer Moreover, when the movable contactsor brushes are in circuit closed position, the

" contacts between them are in direct compres-..

sion, for which the static propertiesof the materialsused are best adapted, and this applies even though the brushes were to close on contacts mounted on slate and like materials.

' and described its application particularly to the control of multiple bus'direct current systems, it is obvious to those skilled in the art 3" contact se that it is not limited to the particular application described and that changes may be made without departingfrom my invention. I therefore aim in theappended claims to cover all such modifications and variations asfall within the true spirit and scope of my invention. f

What I claim .as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In an electric switch of the class described, a plurality of spaced stationary contacts, a cooperating movable contact, a movable supporting means therefor, power operated means adapted to be operated to move said-supporting means to position said movso able contact selectively for movement into circuit closing position with any one of said stationary contacts, a power operated collapsible mechanism mounted on said supporting means and adapted to be operated to 35 move said movable contact into circuit closing position with the selected,stationary c'ontact, and means adapted to be operated to collapse said mechanism whereby to effect the movement of said movable contact to cir- 9o cuit opening position.

2. In an electric switch of the class. described, a plurality of spaced stationary contacts, a plurality of cooperating contacts 7 movable 1nto juxtaposition with any one of said stationary. contacts and o p'ositely, movable into circuit closin position therewith, actuating means adapted to be operated to position said movable contacts selectively for movement into circuit closing position'with one of said stationary; contacts, and a power I operated mechanism adapted to be operated to move said movable contacts in o circuit closing "position with the selected s ationary contact. 1 g '10s 3. In an electric switch of the class de- I scribed, a. plurality of spaced stationary contacts,1a cooperating movable contact, movable supporting means therefor, power operated means adapted to be operated to move said 1 supportin means to position said movable,

Eactively for movement into circuit closing position with any one of said station- 'ary contacts, and power operated mechanism mounted on said supporting means and adapted to be operated to move said movable contact into circuit closing position with the selected stationary contact.

4. In an electric switch of the class dc scribed, a frame, a plurality of spaced stationary contacts mounted thereon, a coopere atingmovable contact, a carriage supported by said frameafid carrying saidmovable contact, power operated. means adapted to, be

, operated to position said carriage selectively whereby to place said movable contact into juxtapositionwith any one of said stationary contagts, a power '0 erated mechanism for actuating said mova 1e contact-mounted on said carriage and adapted to be operated to with any one of said statio ary contacts for movement into circuit closing position therewith, a power operatedmechanism for actuating said movable contact mounted on said carriage and adapted to be operated to move said movable contact into circuit closing position with the selected stationary contact.

6. In an electric switch of the class described, a frame, a plurality of" spaced stationary contacts mounted thereon, a cooperating movable contact, a carriage supported by said frame and carrying said movable contact, actuating means mounted on said carriage and adapted to be operated to position -said' carriage selectively whereby "to place said movable contact into juxtaposition with any one of said stationary contacts for movement into circuit closing position there with, a power operated mechanism for actuating sald movable contact mounted on said carriage and adaptedto be operated to move said movable contact into circuit closing position with the selectedstationary contact, anda control switch adapted to be operated to control the operation of said actuating means and said mechanism in a definite sequence. Y

7. In an electric switch of the class described, a frame, a plurality of spaced stationary contacts mounted thereon, a plurality of cooperating contacts movable into juxtaposition with any one of said stationary contacts and oppositelymovable into circuit closing position therewith, a carriage sup- .ported by said frame and carrying saidfnovable contacts, actuating means adapted to be operated to position said carriage selectively whereby to place said movable contacts I ed to-be-oper'ated to move said movable con-' in juxtaposition with one of said stationary contacts for movement into circuit closing position therewith, and a power operated mech anism mounted on saidcarriage and adapttacts into circuit closing position with theselected stationary contact.

8. In an electric switch of the class described, a plurality of spaced stationary contacts, a plurality of contacts movable into juxtaposition with anyone of said stationary contacts andyopposite ly movable into circuit closing position therewith, actuating means adapted to be operated to position said movable contacts selectively for movement into circuit closing'position with one of said stationary contacts, a power operated mechanism adapted to be operated to move said movable contacts into circuit closing position with the selected stationary contact, and means for controlling said mechanism adapted to be operated to effect the movement of said movable contacts to circuit opening position.

9. In an electric switch of the class described, a plurality of spaced stationary contacts, a plurality of contacts movable into 7 juxtaposition with any one of said stationary contacts and oppositely movable into circuit closing position therewith, actuating means adapted to be operated to position said movable contacts selectively for movement into circuit closing position with one of said stationary contacts, a power operated mechanism adapted to be operated to move said 1 movable contacts into circuit closing position with the selected stationary contact, means for controlling said mechanism adapted to be operated to effect the movement of said movable contacts to circuitopening position, and switching means adapted to be operated to control the operation of said actuating means, said mechanism and said controlling means in a definite sequence.

10. In an electric switch of the class described, a frame, a plurality of spaced stationary contacts mounted thereon, a plurality of cooperating movable contacts movable into juxtapositionwith anyone of said stationary contacts and oppositely movable into circuit closing position therewith, a carriage supported by said frame and carrying said movable contacts, actuating means adapted to beoperated to'position said carriage selec- 'tively whereby to place said movable contacts in juxtaposition with one of said stationary contacts for movement into circuit closing position therewith, a power operated mechanism mounted on said carriage and adapted to be operated to move said movable contacts into circuit closing position with the selected stationary contact, and electroresponsive means adapted to be operated to effectthe movement of said movable contacts to circuit opening position;

11. In an electric switch of the class described, a frame, a plurality of spaced stationary contacts mounted thereon, a plurality of cooperating movable contacts movable into juxtaposition with any one of said stationary contacts and oppositely movable into circuit closing position therewith, a carriage supported by-said frame and carrying said movable contacts, actuating means adapted to be operated to position said carriage selectively whereby to place said movable contacts in juxtaposition with one of said stamechanism and said electroresponsive means menace 3 tionary contacts for movement into circuitclosing position therewith, a power operated mechanism mounted on said carriage and adapted to be operated to move said movable contacts into circuit closing position with the selected stationary contact, electroresponsive means adapted to be operated to effect the movement of said movable contacts to circuit opening position, and acontrol switch adapted to be operated to control the operation of said actuating means, said in a definite sequence.

' In witness'whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of April, 1924 ommmonn, SANDERSON. 

